PUGS!!!

Nope, not the adorable dogs that I would actually consider owning simply because of their squished face and ridiculous sounding breathing style...no, this was a Pictage Users Group meeting and it was awesome! Okay, so for the longest time I have wanted to find a way to meet photographers around the area and get to know them, to establish some kind of relationship so that we could communicate without making me look like a stalker. Being able to ask questions and share information is priceless in this business and with leaders like Becker and Jasmine Star setting the trend of being willing to share what they know and have learned with others, how can photographers not want to join in this circle of sharing? (sound like kindergarden...that circle of sharing bit) Anyway, I went to the PUG meeting last night at Blake Street Tavern and was a bit apprehensive of how I would be received, if it would already be a tight knit group or what...but, I was really pleasantly surprised to run into so many great people...and photographers.

Some I met were Amanda Tipton, James Christianson, Tori Thorp, Katie Van Buren, Travis Broxton, Melissa Rich, and Alison Williams. What a pleasure to meet each of these individuals. I sincerely look forward to getting to know and work with them in the future!

Checking out new blogs

I am so ridiculous. My best friend and former business partner (she decided not to come with us when our family moved to Milwaukee - fine, fine...so her husband didn't have a job waiting for him out here, & wasn't even looking...but, where is the loyalty?) and I were talking on the phone yesterday and I was talking about a bunch of photography stuff I was excited about and she laughs because I drop names like Becker and Jessica Claire as though they are good buddies of mine that I've known them for years and we hang out on a daily basis...and why do I do this you ask? Well, because basically I do hang out with them on a daily basis. They don't hang out with me, mind you. But, I have a window into almost every day of their lives and seem to get to know something new about them every single day. Sad, but true. I am a blog stalker :)But, how can you not be these days when there is so much wealth of information out there to be had that is being shared by those who you would NEVER meet in real life. And they are such an inspiration to me in the photography industry too. They are innovative, creative and more than that - willing to share what they know with others. So, maybe someday I will be worthy of a blog stalker too (the innocent kind like myself I hope) and will be able to pay it forward (great movie by the way!) Some new and wonderful blogs that I've found that I thought I would share as well...

Michael Norwood
Anne Ruthmann
Brooke & Eric Lagstein

And I'll be sure to post more later! In the meantime...Happy Blogging!

I have learned from one of my most favorite mentors that the power of advertising is supposed to be found in this blog right here. So, here goes - I just want to say thank you first of all. I want to say thank you to my family first of all for all their support. I want to say thank you to my best friend Cassidy - she is the reason why this happened in the first place. I can't wait to get you back out west! But, I really want to say thank you to Becker. I don't know if he will ever get to my blog - but in case he does...Thank you for being the giving man that you are in terms of what you are willing to give so much back to those wanting to succeed in the photography business. I found you, I don't remember how, but since that day I have read your blog as though it were scripture! I am so impressed with the work you do, and the success you have. From you, I learned about Dane Sanders, Jessica Claire, the Boutwells, Jules Bianchi and many more. I have been inspired by all of you and have to say - you guys are so lucky to have one another as friends and to be so close in proximity to one another.

The Simple Photo Minute has been so powerful to me. I have really appreciated the most recent endeavor of "The Power of The Few" - and the following video kind of echoes my "thanks"...so, please ENJOY!

http://www.simplephotolife.com/simplevideo/view_video.php?viewkey=cb220ffe637cda29bb3f